Research Opportunities for Improving Treatment Interventions and Recovery Services for Adults with SMI

In collaboration with SAMHSA, NIMH sponsored a workshop focused on research priorities for treatment interventions and recovery services for adults with serious mental illness (SMI). The meeting was an initial response to the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC)  2017 Report to Congress , which included a recommendation to “develop a priority research agenda for SED/SMI prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery services.” The July 23-24 meeting focused on research into better treatment interventions and recovery services for adults ages 18-64 with established schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Meeting participants included scientists from a variety of disciplines who are actively engaged in research involving adults with SMI, relevant health science administrators and program officials from NIMH and SAMHSA, as well as non-federal members of the ISMICC. Presenters summarized the state of the science and discussed knowledge gaps and related priorities for research to advance (a) better diagnosis and assessment of cognitive difficulties to guide treatment, (b) more effective interventions, (c) higher quality mental health services, and (d) fuller recovery outcomes for persons diagnosed with schizophrenia.